Production Planner

About the company

Ridgeview Industries is a metal stamping and assembly supplier focused mainly on the automotive sector. The company employs about 600 people across four locations and describes its culture through principles such as Excellence, Integrity, Faith, and Teamwork. Ridgeview also offers an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), allowing employees to build ownership over time and share in the company’s long-term success.

Role overview

Ridgeview Industries is hiring an experienced Production Planner for its Grand Rapids, Michigan location. The ideal candidate will bring a patient, friendly, and positive approach while supporting production planning, customer coordination, inventory management, and continuous improvement efforts.

Key responsibilities

• Build strong customer relationships through proactive updates, prompt responses, and reliable follow-through.
• Communicate clearly and positively to support respect, healthy collaboration, accountability, and constructive problem-solving.
• Help create consistent production schedules and manage resources effectively.
• Use the QAD system and related tools to manage customer forecasts and sales orders.
• Create new part numbers and customers, and maintain customer orders and ship-to records.
• Support customer and supplier returns, and monitor late or missed shipments along with customer expedites.
• Track inventory requirements at outside processors based on lead times and customer due dates.
• Partner with purchasing to address material shortages by reviewing material needs for production work orders and customer demand.
• Review schedules and material consumption to spot risks such as slow-moving, obsolete, or expedited material.
• Recommend actions that lead to measurable, steady, and lasting improvements.
• Support quality initiatives and corrective action activities as needed.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities through better processes, productivity, scheduling, and other improvements.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in supply chain management, business, or operations management.
• At least 3 years of experience in automotive customer service planning.
• Strong discipline in following procedures and work instructions accurately.
• Excellent communication skills with a clear, open, honest, and accurate style.
• Data-oriented mindset for problem-solving and decision-making.
• Ability to take direction and also work independently when required.
• Strong teamwork orientation and willingness to place team goals ahead of personal interests.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel.
• Prior QAD experience is preferred.

Work schedule and location

This is an in-office role based in Grand Rapids, MI. The schedule is Monday through Friday.

Compensation and benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability insurance, plus flexible spending accounts.
• Matching 401(k) retirement plan.
• Paid vacation, vacation purchase option, and 10 paid holidays.
• Access to employee programs, including an on-site fitness facility.
• Tuition reimbursement.
• Employee profit-sharing bonus.
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).
• Additional benefits beyond those listed are available.

Additional information

Ridgeview emphasizes a family-like culture that has developed over more than 45 years in business. The company says it seeks people who align with its twelve guiding principles: Teamwork, Passion, Golden Rule, Trust, Communication, Accountability, Follow the Process, Data Driven, Continuous Improvement, Personal Growth, Pray Hard – Work Hard – Trust God, and Excellence in All things.